Urban Environment Lab
Today's Research on the Challenges of Sustainable Development
The current social context surrounding climate change is ushering in a new era of land use, planning, and development, one that reconsiders the role of natural disasters, natural resources, and environmental impacts on the communities in which we live. The Urban Environment Lab engages students, policy-makers, and research partners in collaborative projects and discussions on the determinants of hazard vulnerability, community resilience, sustainable development, and infrastructure adaptation at the intersection of the natural, social, and built environments.
State of the Planet
- How the Energy Crises of the 1970s Shaped Today’s Climate Politics November 13, 2026Science historian and Climate School professor Leah Aronowsky discusses her ongoing book project sparked by the 1970s energy crisis.Guest
- New Report Urges Caution in the Race for Space-Based Data Centers November 12, 2026The report warns that space-based data centers are likely to become a reality within the next few years—well before the risks of large-scale deployment can be fully understood.Olga Rukovets
- Rain May Increase Ocean Carbon Uptake More Than We Thought November 11, 2026A Lamont-led study finds that global carbon budgets may underestimate how much carbon dioxide the ocean absorbs by roughly 5% to 15% because they do not fully account for the effects of rain.Rebecca Fowler
- From Landslides to Lava: A Journalism Student’s First Lamont Open House November 11, 2026Oobleck, seismology and seafloor sediments bring Earth science alive during the observatory’s annual public celebration.Guest
- Climate School Representatives Share Their Hopes for COP31 November 11, 2026Columbia attendees share their plans for turning global climate commitments into action at this year's climate summit.Olga Rukovets